C.ex Group Cross Conference Preview

C.ex Group Cross Conference action returns on Saturday as North Coast clubs look to exact revenge on their Northern Rivers counterparts who claimed three of the four matches in the first fixtures of the season.

Sawtell Toormina Saints were the only North Coast team to win at the last attempt and will be looking to keep that good form going at home against Ballina Bombers. Last season these two sides met at Richardson Park and Ballina sprang something of an upset when they downed the Saints. Sawtell will be keen to even the ledger as they don’t like losing at home, but Ballina will be full of confidence after beating Breakers in the first of these cross over fixtures.

Sawtell have won three in a row and will be primed to keep that run going. Ballina are good at home on their smaller oval so the expanses of Richardson Park might prove a challenge for them.

Coffs Breakers only loss of the season came in the first round of C.ex Group Cross Conference matches went they went down to the Ballina Bombers away from home. This time around they play at home, which should guarantee a strong line-up, facing off against the Tweed Coast Tigers who overcame travel and the hospitalisation of a player to beat Port Macquarie Magpies.

Tweed will provide a tough test for the Breakers but will have to lift their game above the level that saw them claim the victory over Port. Breakers at full strength will be favoured to win but won’t want to take anything for granted.

Grafton Tigers are desperate for a win to reverse their recent fortunes. After recording their first win in two seasons the Tigers have been on the receiving end of three big losses and really need to address that slump. Lismore Swans represent a great chance to return to the winners circle but travelling is often the Tigers Achilles heel and is likely to negate any advantage that they may have had over the Swans.

This is a must win clash for both clubs and will come down to whichever team shows the greatest commitment on the day.

Port Macquarie Magpies are winless for the season, which is really foreign territory for the proud club. The chances of that run being broken this week are extremely slim as they face the toughest test in the competition, Byron Magpies at Byron. The northern Magpies are ruthless and will look to exploit the weaknesses of the Port side that is down on both numbers and confidence.

Port have a recent history of rising to the occasion when people write them off and they will be desperate to do that again. Key for them will be maintaining their intensity because Byron will pounce if Port drop below the 100% effort mark at any stage.

AFL North Coast Round 7 – C.ex Group Cross Conference Fixtures (Saturday 20 May)

Coffs Breakers v Tweed Coast Tigers, Coffs Coast Sport & Leisure Park at 2:20pm

Sawtell Toormina Saints v Ballina Bombers, Richardson Park, Sawtell at 2:20pm

Lismore Swans v Grafton Tigers, Mortimer Oval, Lismore at 2:00pm

Byron Magpies v Port Macquarie Magpies, Byron Bay Sports Complex at 2:00pm